2 John
November Memory Verse: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me." Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
2 John
If you just read 2 John, you can proudly say that you just read an entire book of the Bible in one sitting! (My apologies for the lame dad joke).
This short book has a very clear purpose that we see in verse 5: “I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning.”
If you were paying attention during our walks through the gospel of John and 1 John, you probably recognized how many times John wrote a phrase similar to “love one another” like we see here. A quick count shows at least 7 times John saying the same or similar phrase. Why do you think it was such a common refrain for him?
The answer comes when we realize how hard it is for us to REALLY love one another. In our sinful flesh we naturally care more about ourselves than anyone or anything. It takes the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit to help us TRULY care more about others than ourselves.
Similarly to what we recently saw in 1 John, John then reminds us that true relationship with Christ is shown by obedience to God’s Word. A simple test of where you are with God is how you are loving other people. Not just your friends, but those who are hard to love.
What’s an encouraging way that you have felt loved by someone in our church recently?
By: Graham Withers
2 John
If you just read 2 John, you can proudly say that you just read an entire book of the Bible in one sitting! (My apologies for the lame dad joke).
This short book has a very clear purpose that we see in verse 5: “I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning.”
If you were paying attention during our walks through the gospel of John and 1 John, you probably recognized how many times John wrote a phrase similar to “love one another” like we see here. A quick count shows at least 7 times John saying the same or similar phrase. Why do you think it was such a common refrain for him?
The answer comes when we realize how hard it is for us to REALLY love one another. In our sinful flesh we naturally care more about ourselves than anyone or anything. It takes the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit to help us TRULY care more about others than ourselves.
Similarly to what we recently saw in 1 John, John then reminds us that true relationship with Christ is shown by obedience to God’s Word. A simple test of where you are with God is how you are loving other people. Not just your friends, but those who are hard to love.
What’s an encouraging way that you have felt loved by someone in our church recently?
By: Graham Withers
7 Comments
What's an encouraging way that you have felt loved by someone in our church recently?
Great question Graham! The men in our Connect Group have a text thread that runs continuously. We share observations on scripture, Jumpstart, sin struggles, etc. It is so encouraging to know that Christian brothers are praying for you and striving to be honorable men by walking with Jesus each day. We can all get beaten down by the world and battles we face each day. Praying for others to encourage them and knowing they are praying for you gives us strength to live for Jesus and share the Gospel. I'm grateful for the men in the Stafford Connect Group.
What's an encouraging way that you have felt loved by someone in our church recently?
This has been a busy season of life, with school and other leadership obligations, but even through this Nick Parsons continues to check in on me, love me, and encourage me. I appreciate Nick's love and the intentionality that he has with each college student that he comes in contact with.
Thanks for the encouragement to press in & love the hard-to-love, remembering the love we've received from God & others even though we ourselves can at times be hard to love also. Recently I have felt love from several people in our church. We've been watching online this summer due to the delta variant (and the related Covid-uptick at the VA where Christopher works). Christopher also worked a lot of overtime this summer, and we lost a baby in August. This summer has been hard in a lot of ways for a lot of people ... for everybody really. I'm thankful for the other moms who've shared a hug & "I've had a miscarriage too." I'm thankful for a body of believers who love in the midst of their own pain and whose arms are open even when you haven't been showing your face publicly as much.
I could not count the number of texts and calls, etc when Mike was in the hospital. I have never felt so loved by so many before. I knew we were being bathed in prayer. Made me truly love my CPC family even more! They know how to show the love of Jesus!!!
One of the things I love so much about CPC is the genuine love I sense emanating from its members, especially the sisters in my connect group. The random, and not so random, texts of concern and prayer are so encouraging. I love and appreciate my connect group, both sisters and brothers, so much. They truly help me feel connected and loved and are such an integral part of my faith walk and growth.
Graham, there have been several people, people whom I'd never met before, who've come up to me to say that they've been praying regularly (even daily!) for me through my health journey over the past couple of years. I am deeply grateful for the love and care shown to me by so many at the church. 💙
Amen Peter!